Tactical duty belt

ABSTRACT

A duty belt includes a belt and a buckle. A first fixed belt end is rigidly secured to the belt, and a second free belt end having longitudinally-distributed recesses is releasably engaged with at least one rigid buckle pin via at least one recess in the closed state of the duty belt. In the closed state, the free end is guided through a buckle opening and overlaps with the fixed end. The buckle has two perpendicularly and longitudinally offset buckle plates such that a connection element with precisely one opening for passing through the belt is between the two plates. The first plate inner face has a securing device securing the fixed end to the buckle while the second plate inner face has the at least one rigid pin so that one plate is constantly visible from outside in the closed state regardless of which belt side lies outside.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a duty belt comprising a belt and a buckle,

-   -   wherein a first belt end in the form of a fixed belt end is         fixedly attached to the buckle,     -   wherein a second belt end in the form of a free belt end, which         has a plurality of recesses distributed in the longitudinal         direction of the belt, is in releasable engagement with at least         one rigid prong of the buckle by means of at least one recess in         the closed state of the duty belt,     -   wherein the free belt end is guided in the closed state through         an opening of the buckle and overlaps with the fixed belt end.

The duty belt is intended and designed to be worn on the body around the waist or around the hip. In particular, the invention is used as a so-called tactical duty belt, which is worn by public and private security service providers as well as weapon carriers. The invention can also serve as a universal belt, which is also used as a work belt, for holding tools of all kinds.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known from the prior art that conventional buckle systems are closed or held together by means of a prong. In the field of tactical operation belts, such prong closures do not usually exist. Current designs are belts with quick-release buckles whose ends are held together or rigidly closed by means of two end pieces (male/female). These quick-release buckles can only be operated from one side, from which it follows that the duty belts cannot be turned. The outside of the duty belt must always be worn on the outside, because otherwise the quick-release buckle cannot be operated. The outside of the duty belt could therefore not be worn on the inside on the body.

Another disadvantage of known buckle systems is the time-consuming width adjustment at the belt ends. The belt ends are folded over at the end pieces and are partly connected by means of Velcro. In order to be able to adjust the belt in circumference, tactical resources, belt loops and end pieces have to be moved and the belt ends have to be unfolded in order to be able to shorten or lengthen the belt.

Another disadvantage of known tactical duty belts is the attachment of tactical resource holders to the belt by means of a loop system. On the one hand, this concept requires time-consuming threading of the individual holders and their susceptible, slipping on the bet. On the other hand, additional adapters are required, which are designed as a clip system.

US 2017/150787 A1 discloses an integral rigid buckle with a rigid prong. The free belt end is guided through one of two openings of the buckle, either so that the free belt end lies inside the belt when the belt is closed, or so that the free belt end lies visibly outside the belt, wherein in each case the fixed belt end must first be mounted differently on the buckle, which is disadvantageous.

GB 2415736 A1 shows a two-part buckle having a hinge for releasably connecting the two buckle parts, where the free belt end is passed through an opening between the two buckle parts. The fixed belt end is firmly connected to the buckle and is held by two cylindrical pins arranged side by side.

FR 2555873 A1 discloses a two-piece buckle having a hinge about which the fixed belt end on the buckle is pivotable. The free belt end is passed through an opening between the two buckle parts, is held by a rigid prong of the buckle and lies outside the belt when the belt is closed.

In FIGS. 15 and 16 , US 2018/049493 A1 shows a belt that has elongated holes around its entire circumference that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the belt.

US 2020/077776 A1 shows a tactical duty belt that has rectangular holes or openings around its entire circumference which are used only for attaching items to the belt.

GB 758722 A shows a belt having elongated holes extending along its entire length transversely to the longitudinal direction of the belt, by means of which the belt can be fastened to buttons of a pair of trousers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a duty belt which can be turned, i.e. designed as a turning system: on the one hand, the free belt end, after passing through a buckle system or through the buckle, should be visible outside the belt and be able to continue outside, on the other hand, by turning the entire belt in the longitudinal direction, the free belt end, after passing through a buckle system or through the buckle, should be able to be continued inside the belt without being visible. Furthermore, by passing the free belt end through the buckle system or through the buckle, the circumference of the duty belt should be able to be changed quickly, without prior awkward reconfiguration of the belt.

The object is solved by a duty belt according to claim 1. In this regard, claim 1 provides that the buckle has two buckle plates which are offset from one another both perpendicularly to the plane of the belt and in the longitudinal direction of the belt, so that a connection element with precisely one opening for the belt for passing through the belt is located between the two buckle plates, wherein the first buckle plate has on its inner side securing means for securing the fixed belt end to the buckle, while the second buckle plate has on its inner side the at least one rigid prong, so that in the closed state of the duty belt, regardless of which side of the belt is on the outside, one of the two buckle plates is always visible on the outside.

Thus, the free belt end only has to be inserted into the opening between the two buckle plates and pressed against the rigid prong in order to close the belt on the one hand, which is possible from both sides, regardless of whether the second buckle plate rests against the body, i.e. with the prong facing outwards, or whether the second buckle plate is on the outside, i.e. with the prong facing the body. At the same time, the circumference of the duty belt is adjusted by inserting the rigid prong into a corresponding recess of the plurality of recesses.

The two buckle plates will generally be designed in a substantially planar manner. The buckle may be designed so that the two buckle plates coincide when rotated 180° about an axis normal to the longitudinal direction of the belt and parallel to the plane of the belt. Thus, there is rotational symmetry with a two-digit axis of rotation. In this respect, the buckle shows the same appearance—always one buckle plate when the duty belt is turned inside out or outside in.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the buckle plates do not overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt. This has the advantage that both buckle plates serve as a guide for the free belt end when the duty belt is closed. However, embodiments are not excluded where the buckle plates overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the belt.

The guidance of the free belt end can be further improved if the buckle plates are arranged parallel to each other and have a distance normal to the plane of the belt from each other. The distance should be at least twice the thickness of the belt.

The buckle may be designed so that the two buckle plates coincide when rotated 180° about an axis normal to the longitudinal direction of the belt and parallel to the plane of the belt. Thus, there is rotational symmetry with a two-digit axis of rotation. In this respect, the buckle shows the same appearance when the duty belt is turned inside out or outside in.

The buckle can he of integral and rigid design, which simplifies fabrication and keeps wear low due to the lack of moving parts.

The buckle may be of two-piece design in that the two buckle plates may be pivotable relative to each other. In this way, the buckle can adapt to the body and it is easier to thread the free belt end into the buckle and to close the belt by inserting the rigid prong into a recess in the belt.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second buckle plate has on its inner side a rigid prong whose dimension in the width direction of the belt is at least one third of the width of the heft Such a wide prong is very stable and easier to hook than multiple prongs. The prong can simply be inserted into one of the recesses of the belt, in particular in the form of an elongated hole.

The connection element, which is arranged between the two buckle plates and comprises the opening for the free belt end to be pushed through, may comprise two webs which extend normally to the plane of the belt and continue in the longitudinal direction of the belt at the edges of at least one buckle plate. In the integral buckle, the two webs rigidly connect the two buckle plates, and the opening for the free belt end is formed between the webs. In the two-piece buckle, the webs are rigidly connected to only one buckle plate, in particular manufactured in one piece, and are rotatably connected, e.g. hinge-like, to the other buckle plate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fixed belt end is detachably connected to the buckle in that holes of the fixed belt end are placed on pins of the buckle and the fixed belt end is screwed tightly onto the pins. In this way, the heft and buckle can be separated from each other and a damaged belt or buckle can be replaced with a new belt or buckle.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that identical recesses in the form of elongated holes, which are aligned normal to the longitudinal direction of the belt, are arranged over the major part of the belt length. In principle, identical recesses can be used both for dosing the duty belt by means of a prong and for securing tactical resource holders. In this case, similar recesses are distributed over the entire length of the belt, with the exception of the fixed het end, in particular with constant spacing between them. However, it is not impossible for different types of recesses to be arranged over the major part of the belt length. This makes it possible to attach different tactical resource holders to the belt.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the buckle is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The rigid integral buckle and the tiltable or pivotable two-piece buckle can be milled from aluminum or an aluminum alloy and are therefore lightweight, For higher quantities, the buckle can be manufactured using aluminum die casting.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the belt is made of polyurethane. The belt is therefore resilient, elastic, stretchable and does not tear further after damage. In particular, this allows the duty belt to always conform to the shape of the body, regardless of which side of the belt is on the outside or inside.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a holder for a tactical resource, e.g. for a weapon or a tool, is inserted into at least one recess of the bet This prevents various tactical resource holders from slipping along the belt. In addition, these tactical resource holders provide weight relief for the duty belt compared to conventional tactical resource holders, such as loops. The holder for a tactical resource can be attached to the recesses and/or to the belt by means of a click system.

The invention thus comprises a buckle, which is designed either as an integral rigid buckle system or as a two-piece tiltable buckle system, and a belt, which is fixed to the buckle and to which tactical resource holders can be attached. Both buckle systems and the belt are designed as a reversible system, in particular, the invention comprises the buckle and the belt. In the range of standard models of tactical duty belts, there are no belts in which the recesses serve to close the belt and at the same time to accommodate tactical resource holders.

The buckle is designed as a reversible system, so that the end of the belt can be worn visible or concealed. The belt can be reversed, can be tilted in both directions

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is exemplified by the following schematic figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the plan, elevation and two perspective views of an integral rigid buckle,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 1 with belt,

FIG. 3 shows the plan, elevation and two perspective views of a two-piece tiltable buckle,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the buckle of FIG. 3 with belt,

FIG. 5 shows the pan and elevation view of the belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the integral rigid buckle 1 here consists of the first buckle pate 9, the second buckle plate 11 and a connection element 10, which is formed here by two webs. The webs continue along both edges of both buckle plates 9, 11. The webs extend normally to the plane of the belt 2, see FIG. 2 . A wide, inwardly directed prong 7 is integrally formed on the second buckle plate 11, which measures about one third of the width of the buckle plate 11 or about one third of the with of the belt 2, as viewed normally to the longitudinal direction 5 of the belt 2. The free belt end 4 (see FIG. 5 ) is passed through the opening 8 formed between the webs of the connection element 10 and the two buckle plates 9, 11. Two inwardly directed cylindrical pins 12, e.g. each with an internal thread M3×0.5, are arranged on the first buckle plate 9.

According to FIG. 2 , the belt 2 can be guided around the body in both directions 17, 18 and its free belt end 4 can be guided through the opening 8. If it is passed around the body in the first direction 17, the free belt end 4 would be visible after passing through the opening 8, thus would be in front of the fixed belt end 3 in FIG. 2 . The visible outer side of the belt 2 would be the side visible in FIG. 2 . If the free belt end 4 is passed around the body in the second direction 18, the free belt end 4 would not be visible after passing through the opening 8 because the visible outer side of the belt 2 is the other, non-visible rear side of the belt 2 in FIG. 2 .

As can be seen from FIG. 3 , the two-part bitable buckle consists of a first part comprising the first buckle pate 9 and a second part comprising the second buckle plate 11 and the connection element 10, which is again formed here by two webs. The webs continue along the two edges of the second buckle plate 11. The first buckle plate 9 also again has webs normally to the buckle pate at its edges. The second buckle plate 11 again has the wide prong 7 on its inside.

The webs of the connection dement 10 connected to the second buckle plate 11 each have a hole 13. The webs of the first buckle plate 9 each have a threaded hole 14, here e.g. M4×0.7. The two parts of the two-part buckle are screwed together e.g. by means of two pinhead bolts 15 (M4×10), see FIG. 4 , and can be pivoted against each other. The first buckle plate 9 again has two cylindrical pins 12, each with an internal thread (M3×0.5), on its inner side in order to fasten the fixed belt end 3 to the buckle. The pivotability of the two parts of the buckle allows it to better adapt to body curves. Two-part end closures (male/female) according to the prior art can only be closed rigidly and cannot be tilted or pivoted relative to each other.

Analogous to FIG. 2 and also according to FIG. 4 , the belt 2 with the buckle according to FIG. 3 can be used in both directions 17 and 18 and guided through the opening 8.

As can he seen from FIG. 5 , the belt 2 contains recesses 6, which are des fined here as similar elongated holes, extend normally to the longitudinal direction 5 of the belt 2 and are arranged over almost the entire length of the belt, and two holes 16. The belt 2 with the holes 16 is slipped onto the pins 12 from FIGS. 1 and 3 and screwed to the pins 12 by means of panhead bolts (M3×6).

The duty belt can be provided in different standard lengths: S—100 cm, M—110 cm, L—120 cm, XL—130 cm, XXL—140 cm

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Buckle

2 Belt

3 First (fixed) belt end

4 Second (free) heft end

5 Longitudinal direction of the heft

6 Recess of the belt

7 Prong

8 Opening of the buckle

9 First buckle plate

10 Connection element

11 Second buckle plate

12 Cylindrical On (fastener for attaching the fixed belt end to the buckle)

13 Hole

14 Threaded hole.

15 Panhead bolt for pin 12 (fastener for attaching the fixed heft end to the buckle),

16 Holes of the heft 2

17 First direction

18 Second direction 

1. A duty belt, comprising a belt (2) and a buckle (1), wherein a first belt end in the form of a fixed belt end (3) is fixedly attached to the buckle (1), wherein a second belt end in the form of a free belt end (4), which has a plurality of recesses (6) distributed in the longitudinal direction of the belt, is in releasable engagement with at least one rigid prong (7) of the buckle by means of at least one recess in the closed state of the duty belt, wherein the free belt end (4) is guided in the closed state through an opening (8) of the buckle and overlaps with the fixed belt end (3), wherein the buckle (1) has two buckle plates (9, 11) which are offset from one another both perpendicularly to the plane of the belt (2) and in the longitudinal direction (5) of the belt, so that a connection element (10) with precisely one opening (8) for passing the belt through is located between the two buckle plates (9, 11), wherein the first buckle plate (9) has on its inner side securing means (12) for securing the fixed belt end (3) to the buckle (1), while the second buckle plate (11) has on its inner side the at least one rigid prong (7), so that in the closed state of the duty belt, regardless of which side of the belt (2) is on the outside, one of the two buckle plates (9, 11) is always visible on the outside.
 2. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the buckle plates (9, 11) do not overlap each other in the longitudinal direction (5) of the belt (2).
 3. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the buckle plates (9, 11) are arranged parallel to each other and have a distance from each other normal to the plane of the belt (2).
 4. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the two buckle plates (9, 11) coincide when rotated 180° about an axis normal to the longitudinal direction of the belt (2) and parallel to the plane of the belt (2).
 5. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the buckle (1) is of integral and rigid design.
 6. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the buckle (1) is designed in two parts in that the two buckle plates (9, 11) are pivotable relative to one another.
 7. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the second buckle plate (11) has on its inner side a rigid prong (7) whose dimension in the width direction of the belt (2) is at least one third of the width of the belt (2).
 8. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the connection element (10) comprises two webs which extend normally to the plane of the belt (2) and continue in the longitudinal direction of the belt at the edges of at least one buckle plate (9, 11).
 9. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the fixed belt end (3) is detachably connected to the buckle (1) in that holes (16) of the fixed belt end are placed on pins (12) of the buckle (1) and screwed tightly onto the pins (12).
 10. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein similar recesses (6) in the form of elongated holes, which are aligned normally to the longitudinal direction (5) of the belt (2), are arranged over the major part of the belt length.
 11. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein various types of recesses are arranged over the major part of the belt length.
 12. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the buckle (1) is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
 13. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein the belt (2) is made of polyurethane.
 14. The duty belt according to claim 1, wherein a holder for a tactical resource, e.g. for a weapon or a tool, is inserted into at least one recess (6) of the belt (2). 